The family of Leonard Bernstein has defended Bradley Cooper for wearing a large prosthetic nose to portray the Jewish composer in his new film Maestro, saying they are “certain our dad would have been fine with it”.
The star, who also directed, produced and co-wrote the film, was accused of “Jewface” after the look was unveiled in the trailer for the upcoming Netflix biopic.
But in a statement, the family of Bernstein said they were “perfectly fine” with the actor’s change in appearance, adding that Cooper had “included the three of us along every step” of the making of the film.
“It breaks our hearts to see any misrepresentations or misunderstandings of his efforts. It happens to be true that Leonard Bernstein had a nice, big nose. Bradley chose to use makeup to amplify his resemblance, and we’re perfectly fine with that. We’re also certain that our dad would have been fine with it as well.”
They added: “Any strident complaints around this issue strike us above all as disingenuous attempts to bring a successful person down a notch - a practice we observed all too often perpetrated on our own father.”
Maestro will focus on the complex relationship of Bernstein and his formidable wife Felicia Montealegre, played by Carey Mulligan.
Cooper, 48, was accused by some of playing into antisemitic stereotypes.
Jewish British actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, 56, shared a snap of the actor in costume along with a caption condemning the use of the prosthetic nose.
She wrote: “All actors should be able to play any part with their skill. However, we are living in times where there is huge sensitivity and debate over ethnic and minority representation.
“If Bradley Cooper green lights your film to play the Jewish composer Bernstein and you want him over a Jewish A-lister who can equally play that role – then let Bradley Cooper’s acting be so magnificent and truthful that the character of Bernstein shines through what he already looks like.
“If he needs to wear a prosthetic nose then that is, to me and many others, the equivalent of Blackface or Yellowface."
She also referenced British actor Cillian Murphy, adding: “Cillian could play Oppenheimer because he looks like Oppenheimer and could get the power of the man’s story and Jewishness through the power of his acting, ditto Tom Conti as Einstein didn’t have to ‘wear’ a nose.”
The EastEnders star continued: “If Bradley Cooper can’t do it through the power or acting alone then don’t cast him – get a Jewish actor.
“Bradley Cooper managed to play the ELEPHANT MAN without a single prosthetic then he should be able to manage to play a Jewish man without one.”
Her post received several comments of support with many sharing their disappointment in Cooper.
One wrote: “This isn’t about making a non-Jewish actor look more like Leonard Bernstein; it’s about making a non-Jewish actor look more like a Jewish stereotype.”
Another commented: “The real Leonard Bernstein did not have the funny nose that Bradley Cooper is wearing in Maestro. I’m just so tired of this. #JewFace.”
A third said: “This feels especially sinister because Bradley Cooper’s nose is already the same shape and size, if not slightly larger, than Leonard Bernstein’s was.”
While a fourth declared: “I have never said that Jews have to be played by Jews. But the idea of a queer Jewish legend being played by a straight white dude with a fake nose just makes me want to never watch a film again.”
However, Jewish actor and West Wing star Joshua Malina came to Cooper’s defence. He told Page Six: “I do not take issue with Bradley Cooper being made to look like a real person.
“Were an actor to don a big hooked nose to play Shylock, or a random, fictitious Jew, I think I’d have a problem with the propagation of a well-worn antisemitic stereotype.
“Jews do not, in fact, have bigger noses than other people do; Leonard Bernstein did. That’s the end of the story for me.”
The Standard has contacted Bradley Cooper’s reps for comment.
